30/11/2009

Two Pembrokeshire schools have won awards at an Oscar-style film ceremony in London.

Sageston CP School and Ysgol y Preseli both won their categories in the 2009 National Schools Film and Animation awards at the British Film Institute's Southbank Centre.

They received their prizes on stage from popular television presenter, Floella Benjamin.

Two other Pembrokeshire schools - Tavernspite CP and Portfield Special School in Haverfordwest - were also nominated in their categories and were at the awards evening.

The schools were up against 75 films from across the UK. Pembrokeshire was the only county in South and Mid Wales to have films shortlisted for the awards.

Sageston's entry, ‘Flame', won for Best Film in Key Stage Two while Ysgol y Preseli's ‘Whisper of Time' - a solo effort by Year 10 pupil Danielle Tose - won Best Animation in Key Stage Three.

‘How Night Came' was Tavernspite's entry in the category for Best Animation in Key Stage One, while Portfield Special School was nominated for its animations ‘Gwynfor to the Rescue' and ‘Dewi and Dai the Dragon' in the SEMERC Special Award

All four schools qualified having been winners at the Pembrokeshire Schools Film and Animation Festival earlier this year while Danielle's older sister, Micayla, won first prize at last year's national event.

Said Duncan Whitehurst, Festival organiser: "To have four schools shortlisted and two winners at a national event is a major achievement for Pembrokeshire schools and shows what talented and innovative children and teachers we have in our county.

"Schools are already working on their entries for the next Pembrokeshire Film Awards and I'm sure they will find this news an inspiration when they are working on a difficult script or designing a set for an animation."

Captions

Sageston CP School pupils who appeared in their film, ‘Flame'. From the left they are: Amber Thomas, Jess Griffiths, Iori Hicks and Chad Hill.

Ysgol y Preseli pupil Danielle Tose, aged 14, with her award. She created the story and completed the animation on her film, ‘Whisper of Time', by herself.